lesions secondary to anxious behavior (such as licking and biting at the self)

As pet parents, we’re all vaguely aware that we should minimize the stress our pet kids experience. I think it’s important that we also comprehend the health risks of prolonged anxiety, too. The fact is, living in a fearful or anxious state for long periods of time can take a dramatic toll on the health of a companion animal.

Anxiety, is the anticipation of future dangers from unknown or imagined origins that result in normal body reactions (known as physiologic reactions) associated with fear; most common visible behaviors are elimination (i.e., urination and/or passage of bowel movements), destruction, and excessive vocalization (i.e., barking, crying). Separation anxiety is the most common specific anxiety in companion dogs. When alone, the animal exhibits anxiety or excessive distress behaviors.

Any time your pet feels endangered, whether the threat is real or imagined, the body prepares to defend itself by unleashing a torrent of stress hormones, including cortisol and adrenaline, that have far-reaching effects on the whole body. These hormones release energy, increasing respiration while inhibiting digestion, the immune system, growth, reproduction and even pain perception. These hormones also decrease blood flow to areas of the body that are necessary for movement. This is appropriate for survival in a real crisis, but when fear, anxiety or stress continues chronically, negative health effects are a real possibility. These effects could include fatigue, hypertension, gastrointestinal problems, skin disease, as well as metabolic and immune problems. You might be surprised to know that pets can manifest many of the same conditions that we do!

Chronic anxiety and stress can even cause permanent damage to the brain. We know that animals staying in shelter facilities are at increased susceptibility to infectious diseases, including upper respiratory tract infections, litterbox problems, hair loss and bladder inflammation. And that’s nothing compared to the extreme duress of prolonged fear experienced by dogs in puppy mills! We can see the affects of stress on dogs when they exhibit signs of stress colitis, an inflammatory GI condition that causes diarrhea - often seen after boarding, veterinary visits, or grooming. Stressed dogs suffering from separation anxiety can also be destructive, chewing carpet, baseboards, or scratching up doors. Dogs that are chronically stressed can lick themselves raw, creating skin conditions like lick granulomas.

Apart from the mental and physical distress, stress hormones also imprint any fearful situation firmly in your pet’s memory as something that was scary and life-threatening. These feelings can be recalled from something as seemingly innocuous as pinpricks from a vaccine needle, a person wearing a lab coat or the sight of nail clippers. Any memory of frightening situations can prove to be a powerful fear stimulus. When your companion animal encounters a similar sort of situation, the stress hormones are released and the fear cycle resumes all over again.

The effects of fear and anxiety can be profound and highly distressing. We need to recognize fear in our pets, do more to decrease their fear when possible, and prevent fear by associating potentially fearful situations with positive stimuli. As you can see, dogs and cats who demonstrate pathologic levels of fear or anxiety need our help, not only for their emotional well being, but their physical well being, too!

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Fleas are insects that form the order Siphonaptera. They are wingless, with mouthparts adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood. Fleas are external parasites, living by hematophagy off the blood of mammals and birds.

Even a healthy dog isn't immune to getting fleas. And though veterinary medicine has grown by leaps and bounds when it comes to flea control and treating fleas in recent years, it's still a problem that any dog can encounter.

But there are a number of flea control steps you can take to minimize your dog's risk of getting fleas. Step number one is to apply a preventive medication monthly to ward off fleas in the first place. "Hands down the absolute best way to prevent a flea infestation is to consistently use flea prevention on every dog in the house, even if they do not go outside, Do this all year long, even during winter.

When it comes to this flea control, most experts recommend the product Frontline Plus. "Despite recent reports of flea resistance, Frontline Plus still offers the best product on the market. Data show a 100 percent kill rate of fleas in 12 hours, which prevents the transmission of disease. In addition, the product does not require fleas to bite, which makes it ideal for use in dogs and cats with hypersensitivity to flea bites. Frontline also delivers tick protection in the same product.

Though Frontline provides consistent, round-the-clock protection once it's applied, Repellents such as KnockOut Spray can be used as an adjunct tool to prevent flea bites. Capstar, an oral flea preventive product, is also extremely effective, but has a short duration of effect.

I have found that for my pets I use Brewers Yeast and garlic tabletswork the best they get them every day and have never had a flea problem.

Importance of good pet food:

When you purchase your dog's food, are you paying attention to the ingredients label? If not, you should -- especially if your dog experiences chronic ear infections, diarrhea, or allergies. If your pooch consumes a food brand containing by-products, artificial flavors, or preservatives, your dog's diet may be highly deficient in essential nutrients and vitamins that may help maintain good health.

Life’s Abundance is holistically balanced and provides the nutritional harmony that’s important to help your canine achieve and maintain optimal health. We also have cat food and products for people.

A harvest of wholesomeingredients that are supremely healthy and satisfying.

Not All Pet Fish Oils are Created Equal

Regular supplementation of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) from fish oil can help support your companion animal’s healthy skin, coat, heart, brain eyes and joints. However, numerous supplements on the shelves today do not contain the optimal concentration of fish oil. In addition, many of these supplements are not tested by an independent laboratory to ensure purity and safety.

Growing cats need a food that is appropriate for their developmental stage.

Pet Anxiety and Fear

Benefits to owning a pet

Help Against Loneliness Pets are a great way to beat the blues. Not only are they known to they offer unconditional love, but they may also give their owners a sense of purpose, which can be crucial for those feeling down in the dumps. Pets also combat feelings of loneliness by providing companionship, which can boost your overall mood and even bring you feelings of joy and happiness.

When it comes to pet ownership, there are a number of proven health benefits for people, including physical, mental and emotional improvements, from enhancing social skills to decreasing a person's risk of heart attack.

Pet owners have lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol levels and in general, this puts them at a reduced risk for heart disease.Pet owners report fewer headaches, fewer bouts of indigestion and less difficulty sleeping.Dog owners in particular, exercise more though you can certainly get exercise playing with an energetic cat or kitten.Pets help safeguard against depression or loneliness.Pets actually help improve social skills.For children, owing a pet improves their self esteem - someone who loves them unconditionally and wants their undivided attention.Pets reduce the number of visits to a doctor by elderly patientsPets help to ease loss. An older person whose spouse has died is less likely to experience deterioration in health if he or she is attached to a pet.